How can we help with Birth Trauma?
Experience of Birth Trauma
Many people feel they were unprepared for how their birth experience unfolded. If you felt upset or distressed at either what happened to you during birth or how you perceived the experience, then it is possible that you are suffering birth trauma.Â
Birth trauma can be physical or psychological in nature-sometimes it can even be not the birth itself but past non-birth memories that were triggered for you.
It is sadly very common and as a society we are only beginning to normalise the conversation and take women’s experiences seriously. As many as 1 in 3 women are thought to experience birth trauma. More research is emerging about the prevalence in men or birth partner experiencing birth trauma also being as many as 1 in 4.
Both women and men can feel shame and guilt at a time when they desperately want to be focussing on their new baby, but birth trauma can stand in the way.
Factors either side of the birth can contribute to trauma including the journey through pregnancy, feeding challenges, infertility challenges, premature birth and pregnancy loss.
Our therapists can help you process your experience then and now and help move towards the future you want….a future you feel empowered to help shape. They can help you move beyond feelings of helplessness and of loss of control.
Healing from a Traumatic Birth
Birth trauma is not necessarily what happened in childbirth but how you felt about what happened in childbirth.
There should be room express both gratitude about the birth as well as process the trauma, anger, and feeling of loss that may have occurred at the same time. Sometimes we need time to feel grateful about any aspect of it, no-one has the right to tell you that you should be grateful. You may need time to mourn the loss of the birth experience you wanted and hoped for, and that is ok. This is your experience, no-one has the right to invalidate it; not your partner, family, fellow mums, or medical professionals.
Sadly we see many new mums withdrawn from support when they are suffering birth trauma. However research has shown that when women who are suffering birth trauma reach out for emotional and practical support, they are less likely to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Contrary to misconceptions, birth trauma does not necessary mean PTSD.
So many women suffer in silence because of the shame they feel-they blame themselves. Our therapists specialise in birth trauma and can help you move towards building your confidence that you are a good enough parent-not to strive for perfection. That what happened in birth is not something you need to compensate for. What happened was not your fault.
You may need professional support to heal-there is no shame in this, only courage.
Therapeutic intervention for women distressed by their birth experience can reduce symptoms of trauma, stress, depression and feelings of self-blame.
Our clients report an increased appreciation for life, an enhanced sense of personal strength, and an improved ability to relate to others after a traumatic birth. This is known as post-traumatic growth, but this takes time and support.